Keeper for latches



May 13 1924. 1,494,172

- A. KREUTER KEEPER FOR LATGHES Filed Sent. 8, 1919 A TTORNE)".

Patented May 13, 1924.

UN TED- TATES 1,494,172 PATENT" OFFICE.

spam Kr-momma, or cmcaeo, rumors, AssienoR To THE AMERICAN LAUNDRY macnmnnv com any, or noawoon, OHIO, a conrozan'rron or 01110.

KE E FOR LA'rcHEs.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADAM KREUTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook "and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Keepers forLatches, of which the following in a specification.

This invention relates to keepers for latch bolts, such as are used upon washing machines, or generally for latching any'sort of device.

In drum or cylinder washing machines, as well as in many other constructions, the hinged door carries a latch bolt which in latched position lies behind a keeper on the frame. In such devices the keeper, as well as the engaging surface of the latch bolt, in time becomes worn so that undesirable play and lost motion develops, not only causing rattle,'noise and loosening of the parts. but if the keeper happens to be a part of the frame itself the wear may be so material as to permanently injure the parts.

The object of the invention is to overcome the defects in prior constructions for this purpose by providing a keeper which can be adjusted to take up wear of either the keeper or bolt and thereby do away with looseness of the parts and avoid injury to the frame itself.

Further objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings, which represent one suitable embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a washing machine cylinder and the hinged door thereof; Fig. 2 is a detail section, on a larger scale. on the line 2 2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail section on the line 33, Fig. 2; Fig. 1 is a plan view of the keeper shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 and showing the keeper adjusted to a new position to take up wear; and Fig. 6 is a sectional view, on a reduced scale, on approximately the same plane as Fig. 2, showing the latching bolt.

In the drawings, 1 represents portion of the inner cylinder or rotatable work holding member of a washing or like machine. This cylinder has the usual end head 2 provided with a circumferentially extending frame member 3 surrounding which is the usual band i.

5 indicates door closing the opening to the chamber withinthe cylinder, said door being hinged 'at 6 and at each end being provided'with a latch casing member 7, the

cavity in which containsthe usual latch bolt '8 pressed outwardly or toward the band 1 by a spring 9. This latch or bolt may be of any suitable description, one formbeing shown in a copending application of Michael E. Daly for lock bolts filed August 30, 1919, Serial Number 320,770.

In constructions of this kind the bolt usually assumes a latched position behindor beneath the overlapping ends of the metal band 4, and in use of the cylinder this band finally wears so that the 'parts become loose and rattle and the band itself may be permanently harmed. To overcome this objection the frame member 3 beneath the lapped portions of the band 1, as shown in Fig. 3, is provided with a cavity 10 to receive a keeper member 11 having an outwardly extending flange 12 lying along the edge of the band 1. This keeper member, as first installed, is held closely tothe under surface of the band 4 by screwing up the nuts 13 on the holding bolts 14:, the initial arrangement being shown in Fig. 2. When the door is closed the keeper pushes back the bolt against the action of its spring until the bolt finally assumes the locked position shown.

When either the keeper or the bolt become worn so that looseness develops the keeper is adjusted inwardly toward the axis of the drum (downwardly in Fig. 2) by first loosening the clamp nuts 13 and then screwing in to the proper degree a series of adjusting screws 15 distributed over the areaof the keeper, as shown in Fig. 4. If the wear on the keeper or bolt has been uneven some of the screws 15 will be adjusted more than. others, as will be obvious. When the keeper is adjusted sufficiently to take up all wear it can then be clamped securely in its new adjusted position by again screwing up the nuts 13. This arrangement enables the keeper to be adjusted from time to time to take up all wear. If the flange 12 wears off so that injury to the band 4 is likely to occur the keeper may be taken out and a new one substituted therefor. Consequently the lock may always be maintained in eflicient condition.

hat I claim is 1. In combination, door and easing members, and latching mechanism therefor, comprising a movable latching bolt on one mem-.

her, a keeper on the other L member, and means for variably spacing the keeper from the casing, including separately adjustable screws accessible from the outside of the casing when the door is in closed position, and clamping means for rigidly securing said keeper in adjusted position.

2. In combination, an apertured receptacle and a door therefor, a reinforcing band extending about the receptacle and overhanging said aperture, latching mechanism for said door, comprising a movable latching bolt on the door, and an adjustable keepercarried by said reinforcing band.

3. In combination, door and easing members, and latching mechanism therefor, comprising a movable latching bolt on one'member, a keeper on the other member adjustable to take up wear, means for adjusting said keeper, and means for 'securingthe same in adjusted position, said securing means engaging that portion of the keeper which is means 4. In combination, door and casing members, and latching mechanism therefor, comprising a movable latching bolt on one member, a keeper on the other member adjustable transversely to the direction of movement of the bolt to take up wear, means for adjustprising a movable latching bolt on one member, a keeper on the other member having a flange protecting the edge thereof and adjustable parallelto. the flange to take up Wear, means for adjusting said keeper, and means for securing the same in adjusted position, said securing means being accessible When the door is in closed position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ADAM KREUTER. 

